I know, I know, I should update Make Believe at this moment- It's, just, this story came and came and I had to write it down and then there was a new chapter! Like, poof!

I'm thinking of changing the title to something shorter, by the way.

~Springflake

A month passes without me seeing anything of Naruto. Which I'm perfectly content with.

One more minute of listening to that dreadfully high-pitched voice and I may just pull out my eardrums.

Not that it isn't logical that, with our lives so different and the city so big, we won't meet again. It's just that fate has a habit of biting me in the ass.

Although sometimes fate comes in the form of my charming best friend.

"So I heard that Naruto guy is transferring to our school.'' Ino says, absent-mindedly picking at the hem of her uniform skirt. The hand I had been bringing up to my face freezes in mid-air. And, sadly, so does the sandwich in it.

''What?'' Hinata and I call out simultaneously, except that while my voice sounds raspy and squeaky, laced with panic and pure terror, hers is, for some ungodly reason, happily surprised.

Kiba shoots Hinata a confused look, ''Who is Naruto?'' I can't help but notice him bringing his fists up in a defensive position. Not that it's hard to notice, with him accidentally punching Shikamaru in the side.

The latter wakes up with a start and clutches his side painfully, ''The hell?''

''Sorry bro.'' Kiba says, attention immediately shifting back to Hinata at his other side. She doesn't even seem to notice, as she's zoning out with a dreamy smile on her face.

''He's the blond guy that beat Sakura up the other day.'' Ino offers helpfully.

I dramatically tear a ridiculously large chunk of bread off with my teeth and chew violently, ''He didn't 'beat me up','' I point out, pieces of lettuce flying everywhere. ''He threw a can at my head. Him beating me up would require him actually 'beating me up'.''

''Anyway,'' Ino arches an eyebrow in what can only be jealousy towards my great intellect. ''Apparently he moved in with his great-uncle or something, who insisted he transfer to Lakeview.''

''And, uh, when would that be?'' Hinata asks.

Ino is about to answer, but stops herself. She's staring at something over my shoulder, the straw from the fat-free milkshake she'd been drinking wedged between her teeth.

I turn around slowly, somehow knowing what's coming.

Yep, there he is.

As in, all the way by the building. He stands unmoving in the doorway to the school, with the doorknob in his hand.

Some of the students notice him. Girls are altering between giving him appreciative glances and giggling with their friends. I take a moment to realize that they must have some kind of mental disease. How heartbreaking.

I give them a sad look.

Meanwhile Naruto has let go of the door. He looks like he's lost, looking around the school yard, but not focusing on a single face.

It crosses my mind that he probably doesn't know anyone.

The rustling of clothes next to me alerts me of what Ino is about to do. I grab her arm and yank her back down. ''Don't!'' I yelp.

Ino gives me an irritated look. ''Sakura, I love you, but you're being selfish. You cannot expect me to just let him stand there for the duration of lunch break. Imagine if you were in his shoes.''

I take a moment to contemplate this. It's hard for me to imagine being new to the school where I've gone for more than two years now, but I guess, to someone who must have spent his own high school career making fun of rich people and their many possessions and snobby personalities, we must look frightening.

My selfish side takes back over in a snap. ''Do you not remember him being mean to us? He doesn't deserve to have friends!''

''He was never actually mean to anyone other than you.'' Ino says, peeling my fingers from her arm.

My jaw drops. Is she being serious?

What a sorry excuse for a friend.

''Fine,'' I say, crossing my arms angrily. Ino stands up and gives me a pat on the head. I ignore her.

Hinata jumps up from our table as well. She drops the plastic tray that had held her lunch in a trashcan and follows Ino to where Naruto is standing. His face brightens instantly when he sees them, from what I can see. I can't hear their conversation, but they appear to be laughing.

I subtly look at Naruto over my shoulder. He is in the school uniform, almost making him seem like one of us. He looks taller than I remember. Which is ridiculous, of course. The last time I saw him wasn't that long ago. What is also ridiculous is that I can swear I can see the blue of his eyes from all the way on the other side of the school yard.

Then, without warning, Naruto's eyes land on me. I snap my head back around as quickly as possible.

Kiba sits across from me, glaring. Presumably at Naruto. ''What's so great about this guy?'' He asks, sounding exasperated.

''Absolutely nothing,'' I assure him, returning to my sandwich. Just because my lunch break and quite possibly the rest of my high school life are ruined doesn't mean that I should starve.

''They're coming.'' Another voice says from right next to me. I can just prevent myself from choking on my lunch. Where'd Shino come from all of a sudden?

The boy sits there quietly, the preppy scarf wrapped around his neck pulled up over his mouth, like always. As much as I like him, he still kind of creeps me out.

Then his words sink in.

I look around and see that Naruto and my friends are only about twenty feet away from our table. I get my scowl ready, just in case you-know-who says something mean.

''Hey Sakura!'' He says, sitting down in the remaining chair next to me. I scoot away from him as much as I can. ''I missed seeing your face. It reminds me how attractive I am.''

I breathe out through my mouth, willing myself to remain calm. ''If you're going to be an asshole, there's other tables you can sit at.''

''That's funny, 'cause nobody else seems to want me to leave,'' He tells me. He then turns to Kiba, Shino and Shikamaru, ''Hey. I'm Naruto.''

''Hey, man, I'm Shikamaru,'' Says, well, Shikamaru, obviously.

''Hello, I'm Shino,'' This introduction is accompanied by a stuck out hand.

Naruto moves to shake it, but halts and points out, ''Uh, dude, there's a spider on your arm.''

''Leave it be.'' Shino drawls in his monotone voice. I can hear Naruto swallow audibly, and I snicker softly at his misery.

Naruto shoots me a glare from the corner of his eye as he gets over himself and gives Shino's hand an unusually quick shake.

Kiba just gives him a stony glare.

''So Naruto,'' Ino says as she leans forward on the table, her fat-free milkshake long forgotten and crushed under the weight of her purse. ''What does your schedule look like?''

Naruto reaches into the ratty old bag slung over his shoulder - 'accidentally' slamming it into me in the process - and takes out a crumpled schedule.

Ino takes it from him and her glossed lips stretch into a broad smile. I take this as a bad sign. ''Oh, well look at that! You're in our class!''

''Who is 'our'?'' Naruto asks warily, ''Does that include - uh, you know?''

Ino looks at him sympathetically, apparently completely understanding his point. ''Yeah.''

It's not until they both give me a long stare that I realize they'd been talking about me. ''What? You feel bad for Naruto for being stuck with me?''

Ino arches an eyebrow. ''I didn't say anything like that, S. Stop freaking out.''

I blow a pink strand of hair from my face and narrow my eyes at Naruto, who sits innocently, staring up at the clouds. Somehow I notice he's taken his nasty facial piercings out- I never thought I'd say this, but thank you, Miss Tsunade, for the uniform code.

The bell rings. We walk to the building and, despite my desperate attempts to lose him, Naruto happily follows us into the Math room, where Mr. Kakashi gives him a curious look.

''Hello sir,'' Naruto says politely. ''My name is Naruto, I'm a transfer student.''

''I'm Mr. Kakashi, I'll be your math teacher,'' Kakashi says, peering around Naruto, straight at me. I realize I'd stopped walking to watch the exchange. ''You know Sakura?''

''Oh g- uh, no he doesn't-'' I stutter, but Naruto moves to block me from my math teacher's view.

''Yeah, Sakura offered me to sit with her and her friends, and even offered to show me around. I'm so happy I'm making friends already.'' Naruto says, with a practiced crack of his voice.

''Well, you can sit next to Sakura, then! Great!'' Kakashi says, giving us a smile - from what I can see, at least. Like always, his mouth goes hidden behind a white mask, supposedly to prevent the spreading of germs.

''What?'' I squeak, my eyes darting between Naruto and Kakashi. ''N-no! I- I mean, I always sit next to Ino!''

''Oh no,'' Ino pipes up out of nowhere. She hooks our arms together. ''You guys can so sit together. I don't mind. I have catching up to do anyway.''

Traitor.

Today is seriously making me reconsider my choice for a best friend.

''Cool!'' Naruto says, ''Come on, Sakura, let's go sit down.''

With a frown that could scare away death itself, I plop down in my new seat. Next to Naruto.

I look to the other end of the class, to see my friends all sit together, staring at me. Ino gives me thumbs up.

What's that supposed to mean?

I give her an incredulous look.

My eyes snap to the table when a pair of sneaker-clad feet is put on the desk, dangerously close to my face. I crinkle my nose in distaste.

How come that two hours ago, it was a normal, fun school day and that now, out of nowhere, I have a personal stalker whose goal in life is to make my life a living hell?

''You don't even like me,'' I groan, letting my head fall back. ''Why would you want to spend time with me?''

''Oh, I don't,'' Naruto shrugs, ''I just love annoying you more than I love being away from you. Which means I love it a lot.''

Great.

Just awesome.